Can dogs tell if someone is a good person?
Dogs have been called man’s best friend for a reason. They are loyal, loving, and always happy to see us. But did you know that dogs can also tell if someone is a good person?
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that dogs can indeed sense human emotions and intentions. For example, a study published in Animal Cognition found that dogs could accurately identify whether a person was feeling happy, sad, or angry, even if they were not expressing their emotions outwardly.
Another study published in the journal PLOS One found that dogs could be trained to distinguish between people with good and bad intentions. In the study, dogs were shown videos of people giving food to other people or taking food away from other people. The dogs could then accurately identify which people were more likely to be helpful or harmful, even though they had never met the people in the videos before.
How do dogs tell if someone is a good person?
Dogs use a variety of cues to assess people, including:
- Body language: Dogs are very good at reading human body language. They can tell if someone feels tense, relaxed, or aggressive by looking at their posture, facial expressions, and hand gestures.
- The tone of voice: Dogs can also pick up on the style of a person’s voice. They can tell if someone speaks in a friendly or threatening manner, even if they don’t understand the words.
- Scent: Dogs have a compelling sense of smell. They can use their scent to detect emotions like fear and anger.
Signs that your dog senses a good person
If your dog senses that someone is a good person, they may exhibit the following behaviors:
- Wagging their tail: This is one of the most common signs that a dog is happy and comfortable.
- Approaching the person: A dog that senses a reasonable person may come to them and sniff them out.
- Licking the person: This is another sign of affection and trust.
- Rolling over on their back: This submissive gesture shows that the dog trusts the person.
- Playing with the person: Dogs are likelier to play with people they sense are good people.
Signs that your dog senses a wrong person
If your dog senses that someone is the wrong person, they may exhibit the following behaviors:
- Growling: This is a warning sign that the dog is feeling threatened.
- Snapping: This is another warning sign that the dog is feeling threatened.
- Barking: Dogs may bark at people they sense are inadequate to warn them away.
- Hiding: A dog that smells of the wrong person may hide behind their owner or in a safe place.
- Being aggressive: In rare cases, a dog may become aggressive towards someone they sense is the wrong person.
What to do if your dog senses a wrong person
If your dog senses that someone is the wrong person, it is important to trust their instincts. Remove your dog from the situation and keep them safe. Consider contacting the authorities.
Conclusion
Dogs are amazing creatures with unique abilities to sense human emotions and intentions. While they may not be able to tell if someone is a “good person” in the moral sense, they can feel whether someone is likely to be helpful or harmful. If your dog senses someone is terrible, it is important to trust their instincts and keep them safe.
Additional tips for keeping your dog safe from bad people:
- Be aware of your surroundings: Always be mindful when walking or playing with your dog. If you see someone who makes you feel uncomfortable, remove your dog from the situation.
- Teach your dog basic obedience commands: This will help you control your dog and keep them safe in dangerous situations.
- Socialize your dog: A well-socialized dog is less likely to be aggressive towards strangers.
- Never leave your dog unattended: Always supervise your dog when they are in public, even if they are in a fenced-in yard.
If you have concerns about your dog’s safety, please talk to your veterinarian or a qualified animal behaviorist.
Additional information
It is important to note that not all dogs can sense good and bad people with the same accuracy. Some dogs may be more sensitive to human emotions than others. Additionally, a dog’s past experiences may play a role in their ability to sense good and bad people. For example, a dog
